Focus Daily Radio Program Wins Place in Hall of Fame!
Congratulations, Dr. Dobson!
After 31 years of broadcasting, Dr. Dobson has been honored with induction to the National Radio Hall of Fame. The 2008 Class was the first selected through national online voting, and the “Focus on the Family” broadcast is the first religious program to receive such an honor. From a press release earlier today:
“I’ve made a living putting thoughts into words throughout my adult life, but it is difficult to express how I feel about this honor,” said Dr. James Dobson today at a staff assembly. “I am especially pleased because the wonderful people at Focus on the Family deserve it. Our radio program has not been a solo effort. It has been a symphony performed by more than 10,000 people over the past 32 years. I am indebted to them all.’
“Particularly, I want to thank the Broadcast Team, past and present. They get a big ‘tip of the hat’ for all their hard work and dedication. They have earned the accolades this honor recognizes. I also want to thank all the friends across the nation who cast their votes for me. I love and appreciate them all.”
For more, go to www.focusonthefamily.com. You’ll see the press release on the front page.
And, thanks so much to the many who took the time to vote and make this honor for Dr. Dobson possible.
Week In Review
In case you missed the past several broadcasts, Dr. Dobson’s program has featured some very interesting guests and subjects. Earlier, Carol Kent talked about the “Secret Passions of a Christian Woman.” With a humorous and engaging style, Carol shared very candidly about some of her own challenges in living out a life of fulfillment and significance.
Jack and Dona Eggar?were featured in a two-part series intended to help Moms and Dads to actively nurture their own spiritual lives - the necessary foundation for effective spiritual training. The Eggars also offer encouragement to parents who regret missing past opportunities to pass on their faith.
Finally, protecting your family’s health and well-being was the topic for Friday’s broadcast. An expert in the field, Dr. Daniel Hinthorn explains what families need to know about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), an infectious bacterium that is the cause of a growing health epidemic.
Stop by www.focusonthefamily.com to learn more about these programs, and click on the link by Dr. Dobson’s picture. Be sure to listen into our many podcasts, too - each is designed to help your family thrive.
What Can You Do When You Encounter A Stroke?
It is rather a scary thing, I should think, to encounter someone having one of these.
Observations From An Airport
Watched a couple getting off the connecting flight in Dallas. The puddle-jumper, which the airline more respectably calls a “regional jet,” could not accommodate the usual carry-on luggage. We had to gate-check it, and as we awaited delivery to the jetbridge, they talked quietly. Then the bags were available for us to grab and go, and I observed the young woman going to retrieve one or more of their bags. Odd, I thought, that HE wouldn’t do that job. Inwardly, I shook my head.
“Getting to be an old guy,” I thought, “because a man should always do the heavy lifting. That girlfriend, or wife, whichever she was, should not have to go get the suitcase. Where is chivalry, or common respect anymore?”
At the gate, waiting for the connecting flight home, I watched another couple. They were younger and married, by the rings they each wore on the appropriate finger. She was leaning on his shoulder, dressed attractively, and seemingly content. Why she would be comfortable, I could not figure out. Because there he sat, with a portable game player, thumbs banging away on the controls as he made his way through mazes, or past aliens, or whatever the challenge in front of him was.
He was fully engaged. Actually, fully DISengaged. He seemed absolutely oblivious to his wife. The PSP had his full attention. The woman next to him was not even acknowledged in the least. I pondered what I was seeing, and reflected that there are plenty of times when my wife and I have been simply “talked out,” content to simply be together and not in any particular need of conversation. I’m okay at those moments, and she is as well. Life needs some space. This was not such an occasion, though, it was plain to see. “Wake up, man” I thought. “Set the stupid game down and talk to her!”
Maybe its because my own wife and I are just so tired these days from parenting our children, one of whom has some special needs, that it is hard to even imagine having uninterrupted talk-time. We don’t travel together without them. We have a few dates each month, but often those are more like business sessions, going over some issue related to parenting, home schooling, or the budget, or the calendar.
I guess I projected onto this guy. As I thought some more, I wanted to get in his face and say, ”Hey buddy, what are you doing? You have a pretty wife, she adores you, she wants and needs you to talk with her. Don’t fritter away this prime opportunity for growing closer together and for feeding her soul on a mindless video game.”
That’s what I had rolling around in my mind, alright, when I suddenly realized the Pharisee in me. Oops. Busted.
Suddenly bothered at my own shortcomings, I had to admit there are times – too many, really – when I have an opportunity to talk with my precious wife. She wants and needs me to do that. I want to keep growing closer, to nurture her, to connect. But I easily turn my attentions elsewhere. Instead of running through the day’s events, I succumb to the distractions of email. Instead of sharing some of my heart, I read the newspaper. Instead of talking about the kids, and what’s going on in their lives, I check out, distracted by some arcane activity.
So, on my way home I will cherish in my heart the beautiful wife God has given me. I’ll think of her anew. I’ll determine here and now to avoid the distractions. I’ll renew my attentions to her. I’ll endeavor to get away with her more frequently.
And I think I’ll try to be less judgmental of others at airports.
(If you’d like to hear some dynamic interaction about the nature of marriage, listen to this conversation.)
Our Godly Heritage
David Barton is a phenomenal speaker offers a fascinating - and thoroughly documented - look at the religious foundation of the U.S.A.
If you’ve never heard him, hold on - this guy is mighty fast in his delivery! So much to share, so little time…audio presentation here.
Here’s a video clip of David in action.
Good man, great message.
George Jetson’s Surgery
If George needed heart surgery, he might benefit from this.
More discussion here.
Entertainment Overload
My wife heard Dr. Archibald Hart on the radio yesterday and told me she thinks he is spot-on about the need to guard ourselves - and our kids - from information and entertainment overload. Pretty solid advice from someone with a lot of wisdom.
We’ve tried to limit the amount of media our kids consume, for instance. Our computer is in the living room, and the younger kids have to have an adult around and permission to go online, and event then, only to a few approved sites. We’d rather they play outside, read or have some game-time, really. And we don’t watch TV, except for an occasional educational show (or a Jane Austen show from PBS). We watch movies/DVDs, but only average one or two a week.
So Dr. Hart’s suggestion that entertainment and excitement are habit-forming and need to be carefully managed got a loud and clear, “Amen!” from Dena.
One quote from the show:
I’m a gadget person, but I discipline myself. I will not touch a keyboard after eight o’clock in the evening because if I do, I know I’m not going to get to sleep [on] time … I have a cell phone, but only one person knows the number, and that’s my wife, and it’s [only] for emergencies. Very few people have my e-mail address.
BTW, here’s an article by Dr. Hart about the “excitement addiction.” It is a real condition, and one which may be affecting someone you know.
Dr. Dobson in the News
The special issues broadcast which aired the past two days has generated some national news media attention. Maybe you’ve seen the coverage on ABC TV, read it in the blogging world or heard it on the radio. You can still listen in here.
UPDATE: Readers, thanks for the many comments. I did not anticipate the significant response we’d get when I linked to Dr. Dobson’s recorded comments from last Tuesday! As indicated in the past, this is not an open-forum, and we reserve the right to edit comments. I’ll not be posting all feedback, but with those that have been published have tried to show a fair representation of remarks we received.
BTW, the intent of this blog is not to highlight public policy or election issues, but to add a personal touch to my on-air work, let readers see a bit of Focus from a behind-the-scenes perspective, and to bring practical marriage and parenting advice. It is my hope you’ll come back from time to time and find the posts helpful - and hopefully a bit entertaining, too.
Thanks again for reading - and commenting.
* This blog entry has been paid for by Focus on the Family Action, Inc.
Hot Tamales
I have a jar of the “Hot Tamales” candy on my desk. These folks kindly sent it to me, and their reason had to do with their area of expertise. Intrigued? Check out this link.
Groovy, Man
Take a trip back to the enlightened “Age of Aquarius.” Those turbulent 60s were hard for a lot of folks, but God intervened in some dramatic ways in the lives of at least four folks - our guests for this two-day flashback series.
Tidbit: Back in ‘93 when this was recorded I was the show’s producer. It was pretty fun to work with our guests. Today two of them are still here at Focus. That’s longevity!
